Burn Barrel Exchange Program in Honor of Wildfire Awareness Week

KENNEWICK, Wash.-- The week of may 3-9 is wildfire awareness week, and the Department of Natural Resources says it should serve as a good reminder to be careful when burning outdoors.

DNR staff says is the number one cause of wildfires is outdoor burning. One way to burn outdoors is using a burn barrel, which is actually illegal in Washington state. So, to help people who still use one, the DNR, Department of Ecology, and other groups are offering a free swap. You can trade in your burn barrel for a free compost bin. Sandra Williams, Program Manager of Wildfire Prevention Education with the Dept. of Natural Resources, explains the difference. She says, "People put their items in to light them up to get rid of material, reduce it down to ash. A compost bin is where it degrades over time."

Williams says it's very easy for ash or an ember to escape from controlled burns and ignite hundreds of acres. She also says breathing in the smoke from the fires can be bad for your health.

If you want to learn more about the burn barrel exchange program, look at the red toolbar above and click " On Air Links."